Maximize your mind
Maximize your mind
"We are all born originals --why is it so many of us die
copies?"
A quarter center ago, poet Edward Young bemoaned the lack of
uniqueness among human beings. If you're interested in
developing your originality (and by extension, expanding your
self-confidence), concentrate on maximizing your mind And, if
you lead a team and want to maximize those multiple minds, share
the following with colleagues.
Know that you can actually create and fulfill your own
successful-meeting prophecy. You can honestly become more
brain-powerful. You really can optimize your cognitive capacity.
And you can truly maximize your mental operations. First,
though, you have to commit to improving your cognitive
processes. We recommend spending five-to-ten minutes a day,
three days a week. Here are practices to help you recall those
phone numbers and contract-details much more easily.
Create a mnemonic device The mind is an amazing organ. This
gelatinous mass of a hundred trillion nerve cells , when
maximized, can serve the meeting-planner well. (The need to
facilitate memory goes back thousands of years. From Mnemosyne,
the Greek goddess of memory, comes the word "mnemonics," which
is simply the use of devices that will help us remember. Think
about the mnemonic devices you already use (H-O-M-E-S for the
first letter of each of the Great Lakes) and commit to using
such a device for better recall of work-related data.
What work-related set of facts/numbers do you wish to remember?
Consider acronyms, rhyme, alliteration, visualization, or any
other method that works for you, such as noting the ending of
the word "paper" in the word "stationery" meaning "paper."
Ever admire those who can rattle facts and figures off the top
of their head? (Think of how much more productive you'd be if
there were certain numbers, statistics, words, addresses that
you didn't have to look up every time you needed them.) Ever
wonder if the brains of such people are superior to your own?
They're probably not, except in this regard: those with good
memories have trained their brains to work for them. Get started
doing the same.
Practice Once a day, have a co-worker or family member practice
with you. Your coach will give you a one-digit number, which you
are not to write down until he or she says "Record." Then,
you'll receive a two-digit number. When the coach says,
"Record," write the number down from memory. Each time, your
coach will give you a number one-digit-longer than the preceding
number. Keep a log of your progress, specifying how many digits
you were able to commit to short-term memory. Here are a few to
get you started.
3 87 901 5201 84215 075328 40152856 104867624 6903457182
5 26 738 9320 52916 380157 6281302 392815647 2753019586
Chase stress away Stress causes increased production of a
hormone named cortisol. According to Dr. Blair Justice of the
University of Texas Health Science Center, the cortex of the
adrenal gland releases this hormone, which can have a negative
impact on the cells of your immune system. Cortisol also reduces
the number of "natural killer" (NK) cells, which travel through
the body, looking for and destroying aberrant cells. If you
don't have enough NK cells doing their job, the abnormal cells
can eventually develop into tumors.
When cortisol is racing through your body, it can damage the
neurons in your brain in the long-term and cause your to become
"frozen" in the short term. Experts advise engaging in a mental
challenge just prior to a stressful even such as an the opening
moments of a meeting you've been planning for all year or an
interview or a performance-appraisal review with your
supervisor. There are any number of exercises you can engage in
to develop your powers of concentration and control your stress.
Here 's one.
Have a colleague or family member note how long it takes you to
complete these six. Then make up others and exchange with your
"coach." Time yourself on the second set and strive to beat your
earlier time.
1. N-A-P-E is to P-A-N-E as 8-2-4-7 is to: a) 4-2-8-7b)
4-7-8-2c) 7-2-8-4d) 4-8-2-7e) 2-7-8-4
2.P-O-R-E is to R-O-P-E as 3-6-9-1 is to: a) 9-6-3-1b)
3-1-6-9c) 9-1-3-6d) 9-3-1-6e) 6-1-3-9
3.T-O-P-S is to P-O-T-S as 4-1-7-9 is to: a) 7-4-1-9b)
7-1-4-9c) 9-4-1-7d) 7-9-1-4e) 4-9-1-7
4.L-I-P-S is to S-L-I-P as 5-8-3-0 is to: a) 0-3-8-5b)
0-8-3-5c) 0-5-8-3d) 3-8-0-5e) 8-0-5-3
5.S-L-A-T-E is to T-A-L-E-S as 6-7-3-5-2 is to: a) 3-7-2-5-6b)
2-6-3-7-5c) 5-7-3-6-2d) 5-7-2-3-6e) 5-3-7-2-6
6.S-A-I-D is to D-A-I-S as 2-8-4-1 is to: a) 1-2-4-8b) 1-8-4-2c)
8-1-2-4d) 2-4-1-8e) 1-4-8-2
Develop your originality by developing your mind. Whether you're
aiming for the next rung on the corporate ladder, or simply
trying to remember names and numbers at work, rely on mnemonics,
practice, and stress-chasers.
Adapted from Maximize Your Mind; Peak Your Potential
(800-876-4636) by Robin Wilson and Marlene Caroselli. Dr.
Caroselli is an author, keynoter and trainer. You can reach her
at mccpd@aol.com.
Answers: 1a, 2a, 3b, 4c, 5e, 6b.